Seven symptoms, or warning signs
of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI)
1. The visible presence of varicose veins or spider veins
Both spider veins and varicose veins are frequently visible to the naked eye. That makes this warning sign very straightforward. If you see them, you have them!
2. Leg pain or discomfort
Do you regularly experience aching, heaviness, throbbing, burning, itching, cramping, tingling, stinging, or numbness in your legs, especially after prolonged standing or sitting? There’s a good chance this pain or discomfort is caused by CVI.
3. Swollen legs or ankles
Swelling in your legs, especially when it occurs late in the day and is aggravated by prolonged sitting or standing, might indicate CVI.
4. Tired or heavy legs
If your legs suddenly get fatigued after a modest amount of activity or after standing for just a few minutes, you could have CVI. Not infrequently, this fatigue is accompanied by an overall lack of energy.
5. Discoloration and scarring of skin on legs
Rashes, redness, or inflammation of the skin, especially around the lower legs and ankles, can be an indication of vein disease (venous stasis dermatitis). Long-standing vein disease may cause brown or dark stains on the skin (hyper-pigmentation). In advanced cases, the skin and soft tissue around the lower legs and ankles scars so severely that it looks and feels like leather (a condition known as lipodermatosclerosis).
6. Open sores or ulcers on the lower legs or ankles
When severe venous insufficiency is allowed to persist for a long period of time, open wounds (venous stasis ulcers) can develop and be slow to heal. Vein ablation treatments can accelerate the healing process and substantially lower the risk of ulcer recurrence.
7. Restlessness or cramps in the legs, especially at night
Chronic venous insufficiency can cause an uncomfortable tingling sensation in the legs, especially in the evenings and when retiring at night. Patients with this condition feel compelled to move their legs and are often uncomfortable at rest.
Some recent research seems to link CVI with restless legs syndrome (RLS). If you suffer from both leg vein disease and RLS, you might consider having your varicose or spider veins treated before you begin taking medications, such as Requip.
